The prime minister has armed India’s tax inspectors—not exactly famous for their probity—with draconian powers of search and seizure, and sharply curbed citizens’ ability to appeal against arbitrary decisions.

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Probity and its synonyms honesty,honor, and integrity all mean uprightness of character or action, with some slight differences in emphasis. Honesty implies a refusal to lie or deceive in any way. Honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position. Integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge. Probity, which descends from Latin probus, meaning "honest," implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.

Origin and Etymology of probity

Middle English probite, from Latin probitat-, probitas, from probus honest — more at prove

Synonym Discussion of probity

honesty, honor, integrity, probity mean uprightness of character or action. honesty implies a refusal to lie, steal, or deceive in any way. honor suggests an active or anxious regard for the standards of one's profession, calling, or position. integrity implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge. probity implies tried and proven honesty or integrity.